Trombone attachment



Apr. 24, 1923.

L. c. BENSON TROMBONE ATTACHMENT Filed May 1, 1922 Leon C. Benson.

INVENTOR Patented Apr. 24, 1923.

UNITED STATE;

LEON C. IBENSUN, OF PHELADELFI-IIA, PENNSYLJANIA.

TRUE BONE ATTAC Application filed May 1,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LEON C. BnNsoN, a citizen of the United Statesresiding at Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State ofPennsylvania, have invented new and useful Improvements in TromboneAttachments, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to trombones and it has more particularreferences to slide trombones, the primary object being to provide anovel attachment therefor whereby said trombone may be more easilybalanced and held by the player.

Another object of this invention is the provision of a novel attachmentfor slide trombones which is adapted for ready adjustment andpositioning on the instrument with a minimum expenditure of time andlabor.

A further object of this invention is the provision of a novelattachment for trombones of the type referred to which is simple inconstruction, cheap to manufacture, and very effective in use for thepurpose for which it has been designed. With the foregoing and otherobjects in view as will be more clearly apparent from the followingdescription my inventon essentially consists of a substantially heavymember having threaded into its longitudinal ends telescopic sectionswhich are adapted for gripping engagement with the tubular body portionsof the main wind-pipe or for disposition wherever desired on theinstrument so as to efiectivelybalance the same and thereby relieve theplayer from undue physical strain.

In the further disclosure ofthe invention reference is to be had to theaccompanying sheet of drawings constituting a part of this specificationand in which like characters of reference designate the same orcorresponding parts in all the views.

Figure 1 is a side view of a. slide trombone having my'novel attachmentapplied thereto.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal section through my novel trombone attachment,the same being drawn to an enlarged scale for the sake of clearness;and,

Figure 3 is an outside view of the same taken at right angles to thepreceding figure.

Referring more particularly to the views Figure 1 illustrates anordinary slide trombone including bell portion 1, wind-pipe 5 andplaying slide 6 having a cross-bar T ENT.

Serial No. 557,822.

by means of which the playing of the instrument is effected when saidcrossbar is clasped in the right hand. Now, it is a well known fact thatwhen an instrument of the kind referred to is being played the bell atand playing slide 6 are much heavier than the end of the instrumenthaving the bend 8 therein and in order to balance the horn the left handand wrist are placed under considerable strain. In order to overcome theforegoing objection and to balance the trombone so that no undue strainis placed on either hand of the operator I employ a counter-balancemember designated generally by the numeral 9.

This counter-balance member 9 comprises a main or body portion 10substantially solid and cylindrical. longitudinally of the aforesaidbody portion 10-and at each end thereof 1 make borings 11, 12, the innerends whereof are slightly counterbored and screwthreaded at 13 1 1respectively. Slidably fitting the aforesaid borings 11, 12 are shankmembers 15, it respectively, the outer ends whereof are made of saddleformation as indicated at 1. and each saddle portion 17 is appropriatelyprotected with a liner 18 of leather or other appropriate material whichwill prevent damage to the finished surface of the instrument whenapplied thereto. The inner ends of the aforesaid shank members 15. 16are respectively screw-threaded at 19. 20 for threaded engagement intothe aforesaid counter-borings 13, 141 and it is to be particularly notedat this point that said threaded portions 19, 20 are respectively rightand left hand screws.

In applying the attachment to the instrument it will be readily seenthat the shank members 15, 16 are secured inwardly relative to the bodyportion 10 so that the saddle portions 17 can be easily passed betweenand placed in alignment with opposed tubular portions 21, 21 adjacentthe curved end or bend 8 of the instrument, rotation of the body portion10 of the device 9 extending the saddle portions 17 between said tubularportions 21, 21 until the liners 18 grip or impinge the outer facesthereof. Obviously the on er surface of the body portion may beroughened. serrated or scored so as to provide a suitable hand-hold orgrip to manipulate the device.

Now it will be perfectly clear to those acquainted with the art to whichthis invention appertains that by my invention I have provided a simpleand efl'icient counter-balance attachment'ior musical instruments of thenature referred to, its use, advantages and application thereto beingperfectly obvious Without further explanation or description. While Ihave shown and described a preijerred embodiment of any invention I donot desire to be limited to the precise details enumerated as it will beobvious the same are susceptible oi minor changes and variations withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of said invention as morespecifically defined by the appended claims.

Having described my invention, What I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent is:

1. A counter-balance attachment for trombones comprising a substantiallysolid elongated body portion, axial longitudinal borings in the ends oisaid body portion, the inner ends whereof are screw-threaded in reversedirection, shank members for fitting in the aforesaid borings and havingtheir inner ends reduced and screw-threaded for engagement intheaforesaid threaded counter-borings, the outer ends of said shankmembers being adapted for gripping engagementbetween opposed'tubularportions of the trombone.

2. A counter-balance attachment for trombones comprising a substantiallysolid elongated body portion. axial longitudinal borings in the ends oisaid body portion, the inner ends whereof are screw-th1.eaded in reversedirection, shank members for fitting in the aforesaid borings and havingtheir inner ends reduced and screw-threaded for engagenumt in theaforesaid threaded counter-borings, the outer ends of said shank membersbeing of saddle fori'nation and lined with leatncr 'i'or grippingengagement between opposed tubular portions of the trombone adjacent itsbend.

Intestimony whereof-l afiix my signature.

LEON C. BlilN-H )N.

